Sound ranging system



Nov. 7, 1950 R. H. RlNES SOUND RANGING SYSTEM Filed June 2, 1945AMPLIFIER GENERATOR 056 I LLATOR HORIZONTAL sweep GGNERATOR IN VEA! TOR.Robert H. Ku'les Patented Nov. 7, 1956 U NITED STATES PATENT Gi EFlCESOUND itANGING SYSTEM Robert Harvey Rin'es, Broolsline', MassApplication J ul'ie 2, 1945, Serial N o.'597',28'1

(o1. list-6.8)

43 Claims; 1

The present invention relates toelectric sys-- tems, and moreparticularly to receiving systems using, soundwaves .as the agenoyofcommunication. Theterm sound willbeemployedhereinafter, in thespecification and the .claims, to include not only the audible Part ofthe sound spectrum, but also, andlmore particularly, the.

ultrasonic spectrum, and to include also all kinds of elasticvibrations.

An object of the invention is. to providea new and, improvedsound-receiving system.

Another object is to provide a noveljcombined sound-and-televisionsystem.

Another object ofv the present invention is to provide a newsound-locator system for both de-, tecti-ng-the presence of a body andproducing a visible likeness thereof.

A further, object is to provide a. new rangefinder.

Other and further objects. will be explained hereinafter and will bemore particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention will now be. more fully explained in connection with theaccompanying drawing, the single. figure of which is a diagrammatic viewofcircuits and apparatus arranged and constructed in accordance with apreferred embodi mentthereof.

A directive ultrasonic transmitter is shown comprising ultrasonicoscillator I05 fo exciting a piezo-electric crystal II]! and anauxiliary reflector' l03 for reflecting the energy emitted by" thepiezo-electric crystal Nil upon a parabolic sound reflector l.propagated toward an object 3, illustrated as an underwater submarine.The sound waves are reanyrother type of well-known. lens, mirror or.other directive system for focusing the-sounds wavesscatteredandsreflected from the object 3 on the bank or array ZGbfpick-up elements.

The sound lens may, for. example, be constituted.

of-r-alcollodion balloon filledwith carbondioxide orasulphur dioxide;or. anyothersubstanceforrefractingthe sound waves Ultrasonic waves arethusmember 9.

V The crystal :piok-up; -units are; shown all electrically -poledinthesame; mannerv and arranged in-the form of rows and columns,.in -theroximity, of the focalplaneof-the lens. 5. The first. or. uppermost rowof-thebank is illustrated as comeprising-thegroup-of:crystalsa; 23, 21,21, |9, l1,- l5, l3 and H, shown'as equally'spaced horizonv tally.-ThBSGCOIldI'IOW from the top is shown constituted of a group ofsimilarly disposed crys-- tals, respectively: disposed directlybelow thecor responding ycrystalsof the fixatrow; severalofi theseareillustratedat 29; 3I- and 33. ThB thiIdiS or next-lower row issimilarly constituted, several ofthecrystals beingillustrated at 35-and31. Though .onlyaismall. number of pick-up units is shown in eachrow,z-and: though only three .rows are shown, thisiismerelyrforillustrative purposes; in order-no.t:toaconfuse,thedisclosure: It willbe understood that, in practice; a. large. number Y of pick-up. unitswill be employed in each row.

The 1 crystal elements 2 5 2 9,: 35, etc are shown equally-spaced.vertically in the firstor right-hand: column; The.crystahelements;1123,13t, 31, etc.-,- 7 are disposed imthe. secondcolumn from the right. Thecrystal elements 21;: 33,.ietc.,. are; disposed inii the .third.columnufromzithej: right. and. so 011.11.. There may, or maynotgbe asmanycolumns-as= there are pick-upunitspinleach row. Though;- each columnis shown as compri g y. a few? pick-upunits, this. 'is=.,againinordermot to com-n plicate thedrawing. V

The; pickeupi units will; ofjcoursagallreceiverthe-reflected orscattered s-oundwaves through thewlense 5 simultaneously. There will befo-. cused on the front surface of each pick-up unit. a sound-waveintensitycorresponding to'the intensity of the sound energyreflected orscattered from a. corresponding component part, portion 2 or areaoftheobject 3. Each pick-up unit willvibrate individually and separatelyin response tothesound waves impinged upon it. Electricwave energy,alternatingecurrent voltages will thus be translated, produced orgenerated across the pick-up elements corresponding to the differentfield strengths of sound-wave energy thus received by them. Since thepiezo-electric effect is linear, these voltages will be proportional tothe intensity of the sound-wave .energy reflected or scattered orotherwise emanating from the various component portions of the object 3and converged upon the array 26 of pick-up elements by the lens 5. Thesound lens 5 or its equivalent will thus focus upon the array 26 thesound Waves reflected or scattered from the various component portionsof the object 3 in various energy strengths dependent on the reflectingproperties of the component parts of the object -3, thus to produce afaithful sound image of this distribution of the sound waves inapproximately the focal plane of the lens 5. The same result may beattained, as first pointed out by Lord Rayleigh, with the aid of acircular disc (not shown) the sound waves from the object will becomediffracted about the periphery of the disc to produce a similar soundimage of the object 3.- It has heretofore been [proposed to convert asoundenergy picture of this character into a visiblepicture likeness I23of the object 3 upon the fluorescent viewing screen 30 of a displaycathode-ray oscilloscope tube 90. The tube 90, as well as thecathode-ray-oscilloscope-like member =9, is shown operating on theelectrostatic principle, but, of course, a magnetic deflector, or acombination of magnetic and electrostatic forces, may equally well beemployed in both the tube 90 and the tube 9. Improved results may beobtained, however, in accordance with a feature of the presentinvention, with the aid of a load circuit in which may appear thetotality or resultant of the voltages produced by all the soundwavereceiving elements in response to the impingement of sound wavesthereupon. This resultant voltage may then be diminished by successivequantities dependent upon the soundwave energy impinged upon thesuccessively disposed sound-wave receiving elements, thereby to effect ascan of the distribution of sound waves impinged upon the elements.

The crystals l3, I5, etc. may be held in metallic crystal holders. Thecrystal II, for example, is illustrated as disposed between a pair ofmetal electrodes 4| and 5|, and the crystal I3,

between a pair of metal electrodes 45 and 53. Adjacently disposedelectrodes of adjacently disposed crystals are shown electricallyconnected together. The electrode 5| of the crystal II, for example, isshown electrically connected to the adjacently disposed electrode 45 ofthe adjacently disposed crystal I3. the end crystal of each row,moreover, is shown electrically connected, as at 28 and 32, to theterminal electrode of the corresponding crystal of the next row. Thecrystals are thus all connected together in series relation with asource of energy, shown as a battery 2, one of the func-' tions of whichis to sensitize the vibratory response of the crystals, and a loadimpedance 4.

There will thus be produced across the load impedance 3 a voltagedependent upon the sum of the alternating-current voltages producedacross the individual crystals by the incident sound waves and thedirect-current-biasing voltage of the battery 2. Provision is made,however, for short-circuiting successively disposed crystals, thus todevelop or produce successively across the impedance 4 fluctuatingcurrent or voltage signals or indications corresponding to the voltagedrops across the successively disposed crystals and, therefore, to thecorresponding strengths of sound-wave energy received by the crystals.

According to a further feature of the present invention, thisshort-circuiting or scanning process is effected with the aid of ascanning electron stream in the cathode-ray-oscilloscope-like member 9,which is shown provided with a vacuum-tube, electron gun comprising a,cathode 6, a control-grid electrode 8 and an anode ID. This obviates thenecessity for mechanically moving parts or other complex scanningmechanisms and permits the use of common scanningvoltage ecircuits foreffecting both the scan of the sound-wave receiving elements and thescan of the electron stream of the display cathode-ray tube, ashereinafter explained. Electrons emitted from the cathode 5 will becomeaccelerated, in response to proper stimulation of the grid 8, so as topass by the grid 8 to the anode II) of the member 9. The electrons willcontinue to travel in a stream fromthe-anode I0, between a pair ofvertically disposed deflector plates I6 and I8, of which the plate I8 isshown grounded, and between a pair of horizontally disposed deflectorplates I2 and I l, of which the plate I4 is shown grounded, to impingefinally on the disc I of the member 9. A horizontal-sweep-time base,applied to the vertically disposed deflector plates I6 and I8, willcause the electron stream from the cathode 6 to become deflectedhorizontally as many times as there are rows of pick-up elements.

-- After each horizontal sweep or scan of the cathode-ray oroscilloscope-like member 9 has been .,,sweep-time base causing theelectron stream to become deflected vertically, and causing each of thehorizontal sweeps to appear at successively v lower levels on the face Icorresponding to successively lower vertically disposed levels of therows of elements. The rows of crystals may be The terminal electrode ofpositioned along the successive paths of the electron stream, as theelectron stream successively sweeps or scans the successive rows of thearray on thedisc I. After the last such horizontal sweep, thehorizontally disposed plates of the member 9 will become restored totheir starting voltage. The next horizontal sweep, therefore, will startagain at the first or top row. Sweep or scan-voltage generators 20 and22 may be employed to produce the horizontal-time-base sweep and thevertical sweep, according to conventional and well-known televisiontechniques.

The distance or spacing between the electrodes of'each crystal, such asthe electrodes 4! and 5| 0f the crystal I, may be made of valuenecessary to give a desired capacitance to provide a circuit resonant tothe frequency of the received sound waves, thereby further to enhancethe mechanical vibrations of the crystals, and the anode I0 may beadjusted so that the distance between the pair of electrodes of eachcrystal shall be equal to the width of the electron stream. The electronstream will thus become enabled to fill the gap between the electrodesof each crystal, thereby discharging the capacity between theseelectrodes.

As the electron stream produced from the oath 1 ode 6, in response toappropriate horizontal sWeep-time-base voltages applied to thevertically disposed deflector plates I6 and I8 of the cathode ray-likemember 9, travel across between the ass-ares crystai electrodes, th'evoltages-built upfacross. the

pli'fier 24. This amplifier 24 is operated at a high point on itscharacteristic curve by virtue of the bias battery 2 in series with thesmall alternating voltages from the crystals across the'input of theamplifier. The positive swings of the alternatingv voltages from-thecrystals drive thetub'e '25 into thesaturation region, Whilethe negativeswings" are' amplified on the linear characteristic, thusproducingpositive pulses at the-plate or anode of the-amplifier-2dOperating, in this manner,

as an overdrivenamplifier; it serves, therefore, as

a rectifier.

Upon" the successive short-circuiting of each crystal-condenser elementby the electron stream, as discussedabove, the alternating voltageacross the impedance 4 is diminished by the small voltage from theparticular crystal element representative of-the intensity of the soundwave impinged on that element. The amplified positive pulses-occurringin the output of the amplifier 24, during the scanning of a crystal,therefore, will have a peak amplitude that is less than before by anamount equal to the amplification of the tube multiplied by'the voltageappearing across the particular crystal element. The output of theamplifier 2% will thus obviously vary, at successive instants, inaccordance with the discharge or short-circuiting of the successivecrystals, which discharge, as before stated, is a measure of the,strength of the sound energy received by the correspondingpick-upelements.

Means is provided, controlled by the discharge or short-circuiting ofthe crystal electrodes, for producing, upon the screen .30 of thedisplay oscilloscope 90, image I23 corresponding to the sound energyreceived by the corresponding pickup elements. successively disposedparts, portions, regions or areas of the screen at, that correspond .tothesimilarly disposed pick-up .elements, are energized by an electronstream in the oscilloscope 98 to illuminate them. This electron streamis synchronized to travel with the electron stream of thecathode-ray-like member 9. The horizontal sweep circuit 26 is shownconnected tothe horizontal-deflector plate I I6 of the oscilloscope 9B,and to the horizontal deflector plate l6 of the oscilloscope-like member9. The verticalsweep circuit 22 is shown connected to thevertical-deflector plate! iz of the oscilloscope 9t and to thevertical-deflector plate I2 of the oscilloscope-like member 9, The otherhorizontal-deflector plate ;I I8 and the othervertical-defiector plate;lI4-- of the oscilloscope 90 are shown grounded.

Thevamplifier 2% is shown connected by a conductor 36 to thecontrol-grid electrode 8! and by a conductor 3e to=the cathode d8 of theoathode-ray oscilloscope 9t]; Electrons emitted from loscopeldeflectorplates..-ll5 and I I8, and betweenthelpair. of horizontalyis disposedoscilloscope dee flectorplates H2 and I It, to impinge finally on? theiiuorescent viewing screen 30 of the oscillo-' scope 90. As previouslydescribed in connection with the oscilloscope-like member 9, thehorizontal-sweep-time base, applied to the vertically disposed defiectorplates H6 and H8, will cause the electron stream from the cathode tobecome deflected horizontally, and the vertical-sweeptime base, appliedto the horizontally disposed deflector plates H2 and Ht, will cause theelectron stream to become deflected vertically.

Since the cathode-ray tubes 9 and 9B are subjected to the-same scanningvoltages, the electron stream in the tube Elev/ill impinge on thefluorescent screen as in synchronism with the electronstreamimpinging onthe crystals on the face i of the oscilloscope-like member 9 during thevoltage-discharging or scanning process. The signals amplified by theamplifier 2 3, and fed between the cathode 69 and the control electrode80, will produce intensity modulation of the beam impinging on thescreen 39. Prior to the discharging process, positive swings or pulseoutputs of the amplifier 2 would make the cathode 6i! periodicallypositive with respect to the grid at. In conjunction with the bias of abattery 38 disposed between the cathode 6G and the grid this wouldpermit the passage of but few of the electrons of the electron streambeyond the grid 83. Since, during the discharge of a crystal element,however, the positive swings or pulses in the output of the amplifier 24are of a peak amplitude less than the original pulses by an amountpportional to the voltage produced by the sound waves across theparticular crystal element, the cathode is periodically driven lesspositive with respect to the grid 83. A larger quantity of electrons arethus permitted to travel periodically past the anode H33, during thetrain of pulses produced by a crystal-condenser discharge, to impingefinally on the fluorescent screen 539. The quantity of electrons thatreach the screen 39 to produce intensity modulation during the scanningof a particular crystal, therefore, depends on the decrease in theoutput of the amplifier E i, and this, in turn, depends upon the voltageproduced across the crystal by the sound-wave intensity impingedthereon. The electromagnetic illumination resulting from the intensityof modulation on the screen 3! will be such that the intensity ofillumination of parts of the screen 39 corresponding to parts of thecrystal hank 25 will correspond to the soundwave image on the rows andcolumns of the bank 25; this sound-wave image, in turn, corresponding tocorrespondingly disposed parts of the object 3.

To each row of crystals, therefore, there correspends, on the face '5 ofthe oscilloscope-like member .S, a horizontal electron stream thatdischarges the crystals of that row. To the sound distribution on eachrow of crystals, moreover, there corresponds, on the oscilloscope screen3!], a horizontal electron stream that is graded in intensity. Thisintensity is, as before stated, distributed in synchronisni with thecorresponding state of voltage across the corresponding crystals. of thearray 25 of the oscilloscope-like memberfl.

The sound waves received successively by the crystal units along thesuccessive r Ws and columns, as the units are rendered successivelyeffective in the dispiay circuit, Will thus become converted intosuccessive elemental portions of the visual likeness, alongcorrespondingly disposed rows and columns thereof, alongthe suc-.

cssi've' time bases. The elemental portions of the visual-picturelikeness I23 of the object 3 thus produced on the oscilloscope screen 30will accordingly correspond to the elemental portions of the soundenergy picture on the array 26 of pick-up elements which, in turn,corresponds to the elemental portions of the actual object 3. A visualimage 123 of the object 3 is thus produced on the screen 30.

The crystals of the bank 26 may be wafer thin in order to make possiblethe use of a sufficiently large number of them in the array 26 toprovide for good definition. The frequency of the sound Waves, forexample, may be 100 megacycles, corresponding to a wave-length ofapproximately 5 10 feet, in water, and produced, for example, by anoscillating quartz crystal, as described, for example, in an article byW. P. Mason and I. E. Fair, entitled A New Direct Crystal- ControlledOscillator for Ultra-Short-Wave Frelquencies, Proceedings of theInstitute of Radio Engineers, October, 1942, vol. 30, No. 11, pages 464to 472; Lower irequencied crystal oscillators may also be used, asdescribed, for example, in an :article by G. W. Pierce, entitledPiezoelectric Crystal Oscillators Applied to the Precision Measurementof the Velocity of Sound in Air and CO2 at High Frequencies, Proceedingsof the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, October, 1925, vol. 60,No. 5, pages 275 to 295. Reference may be made also to W. G. Cady,Piezoelectricity, McGraw-Hill, 1946, pp. 501 to 506 and 682, andKamay-achi and Watanabe, Electrotechnical Journal of Japan, vol. 5, No.1, 1941 pp. 19 and 20.

According to a further feature of the invention, it is possible to findthe range of the object 3, assuming that its size is known. All that isnecessary is to adjust the position of the lens 5 so as to produce asharp sound image on the array 26 of pick-up elements; the range maythen be obtained by simple geometrical optics. If, for example, theobject 3 is a submarine of known size, the size of the visible likenessH23, divided by the known size of the submarine, will have the sameratio as the ratio between the distance of the lens 5 from the bank 26of pickup elements, adjusted to obtain clear vision, di vided by thedistance of the object '3.

Although the invention has been described in connection with pick-upelements arranged in rows and columns, it will be understood that thisis not essential, for other arrangements are also possible. Pick-upelements arranged along concentric circles covering the field, or alonga continuous spiral, will also serve, though the oscilloscopearrangement would, of course, be correspondingly modified.

Further modifications will occur to persons skilled in the art, and allsuch are considered to :fall within the spirit and scope of theinvention, as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An electric system having, in combination, a bank of piezo-electricsound-receiving elements, means for focusing sound waves from an objectupon the sound-receiving elements, a load circuit, means for permanentlyconnecting the bank of receiving elements to the load circuit, means forscanning the receiving elements to develop signals in the load circuitrepresentative of the sound-wave energy focused upon the receivingelements, and means operating in synchronism with the scanning means andresponsive to the signals developed in the load circuit for producing alikeness of the object.

2. An electric system having, in combination,- a bank of sound-receivingelements, means for focusing sound waves from an object upon thesound-receiving elements, electron-beam scanning means associated withthe receiving elements for successively scanning the elements to developsuccessive signals, and cathode-ray-oscilloscope means acting insynchronism with said scanning means and controlled in accordance withthe signals for producing a likeness of the object.

3. An electric system having, in combination, a plurality ofsound-receiving elements each capable of developing a voltage inresponse to received sound-wave energy, means for impressing sound wavesupon the elements to develop a voltage upon each element, means forsuccessively discharging the voltages, and means controlled by andsynchronously with the discharge of the voltages for producing alikeness corresponding to the energy received by the correspondingelement.

4. An electric system having, in combination, a plurality ofsound-receiving elements each capable of developing a voltage inresponse to received sound-wave ener y, means for impressing sound wavesupon the elements to develop a voltage upon each element, means forsuccessively discharging the voltages, a screen successively disposedareas of which correspond to the successively disposed elements, andmeans controlled by and synchronously with the discharge of each voltagefor energizing the area corresponding to the corresponding element.

5. An electric system having, in combination,

a plurality of sound-receiving elements each capable of developing avoltage in response to received sound-wave energy, means for impressingsound waves upon the elements to develop a voltage upon each element,means for successively discharging the voltages, an oscilloscope havinga screen successively disposed areas of which correspond to thesuccessively disposed elements, and means for sending an electron streamthrough the oscilloscope in synchronism with the discharge of thevoltages to illuminate the areas in synchronism with the reception ofthe sound energy received by the corresponding elements.

6. An electric system having, in combination, a plurality ofsound-receiving elements each capable of developing a voltage inresponse to received sound-Wave energy, means for impressing sound wavesupon the elements to develop a voltage upon each element, means forsending an electron stream to the elements successively to dischargethem, an oscilloscope having a screen successively disposed areas ofwhich correspond to the successively disposed elements, and means forsending an electron stream through the oscilloscope in synchronism withthe first-named stream and for controlling the electron stream inaccordance with the discharge of the elements to illuminate the areas insynchronism with the reception of the sound energy by the correspondingelements.

7. An electric system having, in combination, a plurality ofsound-receiving elements capable of responding electrically whenmechanically vibrated by sound waves from an object, eachsound-receiving element corresponding to a predetermined elementalportion of the object from which it receives sound waves, means forproducing scanning voltages, means responsive to the scanning voltagesfor scanning the successive sound-receiving elements thereby to scan thesound Waves received from the object, and means responsive to theScanning voltages and controlled "by the electrical response of thesuccessive sound- :receiving elements produced when mechanicallyvibrated by the sound Waves received from the correspondin predeterminedelemental portions of the object to produce a likeness of thecorresponding successiveelemental portions of the object.

8. An electric systemfhaving, in combination, a cathode-ray apparatuscomprising means for producing an electron stream, a mosaic providedwith .a plurality of groups of piezo-electric elements substantiallyequally spaced alongar predetermined dimension, with the piezo-electricelements of each group substantially equally spaced along a secondpredetermined dimension, the piezo-electric elements being mounted tovibrate individually and separately in "response to sound wavesimpinging upon the respective piezo-electric elements, means for causingthe'electron'stream .to impinge upon the piezo-electric elements, andmeans controlled. synchronously with and responsive to the impingementof the electron -stream upon the piezoelectric elements for pro ducing alikeness corresponding to the received sound waves.

' 9. An electric system having, in'combination,

" a cathode-ray apparatus comprising means for producing an electronstream, a mosaic provided with'a'plurality of groupsof piezo-electricelements substantially-equally spaced along-a predetermined dimension,with the piezo-electric elements of each group substantially equallyspaced along a second predetermined-dimension, the

piezo-electric elements being mounted to vibrate individually andseparately in response to sound waves impinging upon the respectivepiezo-electric elements, means for causin the electron stream to'scansuccessively the successive piezoelectric elements ofeachsuccessive-group of piezoelectric elements, an image-reproducingmeans, and means operating synchronously with the scanning means andresponsive to the scanning of the successive piezo-elect'ricelementsrafor' producing upon the image-reproducingmeans a likenesscorresponding to the received sound waves.

10. An electric system having, in combination, 'a cathode-ray apparatuscomprising means for producing an electron stream, a mosaic providedwith a plurality of multi-surfaced piezo-electric elements forreceivingsound waves from an object, each element being providedwitha pair ofelectrodes adjacent to two surfaces'of the element, means for causingthe electron stream to travel towards the element surfaces unprovidedwith electrodesin order to scan the piezo-electric elements, and meansresponsive' to the scanning of the piezo-electric elements and'controlled synchronously therewith for producing a likeness of theobject, t

11. An electric system having, in combination, "a cathode-ray apparatuscomprisin meanslfor producing an electron'stream;ai-fmosaic upon whichthe electron 'stream mayl-impingeprcvided "with a plurality of 'groupsof"piez'o-electri'c elewaves from an obiect'and the rear surfaces of theelements beingexposejd 'to the electron stream Within thecathodeeraywapparatus, 1 means tor causing the-electron stream to scanthe rear sur- .-facesof the piezo-electric elements, and meanscontrolled synchronously with the scanning means -a cathode-rayapparatus comprising means for producing an electron stream, a mosaic ofpiezoelectric elements for receiving sound waves from an object, eachelement of the mosaic having two electrodes spaceda distancecorresponding substantially to'the width of the electron stream,

means for'causi-ng the electron stream to scan thepiezo-electric'elements; and means controlled synchronously with thescanning a means and -responsiveto the scanning of the piezo-electricele- "ments for producing a likeness of the object.

13. An electric system having, in combination, a cathode-ray-apparatuscomprising means for producing-an-electron stream, a mosaic upon whichthe electronstream may impinge provided with-a plurality of groups ofpiezo-electricele- -ments substantially equally spaced along apredetermineddimensionwith the piezo-electric elements of each groupsubstantially equallyspaced along a second predetermined dimension, the

' piezo-electric elements being mounted to vibrate individually andseparately in response to sound waves from an object impinging upon therespective piezo-electric elements, each pieZo-electric element havingtwo electrodes connected in a common electric circuit, means for causingthe electron stream to scan the piezo-electric elements in order toproduce electrical'signals in the electric circuit and means responsiveto the electrical signals and controlled synchronously with the scanninmeans for producing a likeness of the object.

14. An electric system having, in combination,

a' mosaic comprising a two-dimensional array of sound-receiving elementsfor receiving sound waves froman object; means for producing an electronstream impinging on the elements, an

' electric circuit in which the elements are con- "cuitjan'd meanscontrolled in synchronismwith the scanning'mea-ns and responsive to thesignals in the electric circuit to produce successive portions ofalikeness of the object in two-dimensional order synchronously with thereception of the sound energy from the object by the receiving elements.

15. An electric system having, in combination, a first electron tubehaving a screen and means for producing'a first electron streamimpinging on the screen, a second electron tube having a plurality of"sound-receiving elements for receiving sound energy and'means forproducing a second 'electron' stream impinging on the elements, means'for-synchronizingtheoperation of the electron streams, and means"operable in response to the sound energy received by the sound-receivingelements and cooperative with the second electron stream for causing thefirst electron stream to produce upon the screen a likenesscorresponding totheenergy received by the sound-receiving --elernents.

'16: An electricsystem having, in combination,

sound receivingwmeans the dimensions of which ivary. .in .='resp onse-tothe received" sound 'waves,

" means for producing an electron stream impinging'on the sound-receivinmeans, means for causing the electron stream to scan the soundreceivingmeans, an electric circuit in which the sound-receiving means isconnected, and means for directing sound energy on the sound-receivingmeans to produce changes in the dimensions of the sound-receiving means,thereby to vary the current in the circuit as the electron stream scansthe sound-receiving means,

17. In combination, means for imaging sound waves from a scene to bereproduced, a soundwave pick-up device comprising piezo-electric means,means for producing scanning voltages, means responsive to the seamingvoltages for scanning an area successive portions of which correspond tosuccessive portions of the soundwave image, means controlled inaccordance with the scannin for converting the energy picked up duringthe scanning by the pick-up device from the different portions of theimage into corresponding electrical signals, a display cathode-ray tube,means responsive to the scanning voltages for operating the tube insynchronism with the scanning, and means for supplying the signals tothe tube, whereby a picture of the scene is obtained.

18. In combination, means for imaging sound Waves from a scene to bereproduced, a soundwave pick-up device comprising mechanically vibratorymeans, means for producing scanning voltages, means responsive to thescanning voltages for scanning an area successive portions of whichcorrespond to successive portions of the sound-wave image, meanscontrolled in accordance with the scanning for converting the energypicked up during the scanning by the pick-up device from the differentportions of the image into corresponding electrical signals, animagereproducing means, means responsive to the scanning voltages foroperating the image-reproducing means in synchronism with the scanning,and means for supplying the signals to the imagereproducing means,whereby a picture of the scene is obtained.

19. A system for transforming an image formed by sound Waves into animage formed by electromagnetic waves, said system comprising aplurality of spaced sound-receiving elements each having two conductivesurfaces separated by a lar one of said receiving elements in proportionto the sound intensity at the given point, means periodicallydischarging said receiving elements in succession, thereby producing afluctuating current varying in accordance with the magnitude of thealternating currents from element to element, and means producing anelectromagnetic image from the information carried by the fluctuationsin said current.

20. An electric system having, in combination,

"means comprising a plurality of vibratile elements for receiving soundwaves from an object, each element bein capable of translating soundwaves received by it into electrical waves of intensity corresponding tothe intensity of the received sound waves, means for focusing asoundments, a load circuit, means for permanently connecting theplurality of receiving elements to the load circuit to developelectric-wave signals representative of the sound-wave energy focusedupon the receiving elements, means for scanning the elements thereby toscan the sound-wave image, and means connected to the load circuitoperating in synchronism with the scanning and responsive to theelectric-wave signals translated from the received sound waves by thereceiving elements and developed in the load circuit for producing alikeness of the object.

21. An electric system having, in combination, a plurality ofsound-receiving elements for receiving sound waves from an object, eachelement being capable of translating sound waves received by it intocorresponding electric energy, a load circuit, means for connecting theplurality of receiving elements to the load circuit simultaneously toproduce electric energy in the load circuit representing the resultantof the electric energy produced by all of the plurality of receivingelements, means for instantaneously diminishing said resultant of theelectric energy by quantities corresponding to the electric energytranslated by the successive sound-receiving elements from the soundwaves received thereby, and means operating synchronously with thediminishing means connected to the load circuit and responsive to theelectric waves for producing a likeness of the object.

22. An electric system having, in combination, a plurality of vibratilemeans for receiving sound waves and translating the received sound wavesinto corresponding electric energy, means for focusing sound waves froman object upon the sound-wave receiving means, a load circuit comprisingan amplifier, means for producing a biasing voltage, means forpermanently connecting the biasing-voltage-producing means and thesound-Wave receiving means to the load circuit, and means connected tothe amplifier and responsive to the electric energy translated from thereceived sound Waves by the receiving means for producing a likeness ofthe object.

23. An electric system having, in combination, sound-energy receivingmeans capable of respondin electrically in response to sound energyreceived thereby, means for producing electrons for varying theelectrical response of the soundenergy receiving means thereby todevelop a signal, and means controlled by the signal for producing anindication corresponding to the sound energy received by thesound-energy receiving means.

24. An electric system having, in combination, mechanically vibratorymeans adapted to be set into mechanical vibration in response to soundenergy impinging thereon and capable of responding electrically whenvibrated mechanically, means for producing electrons for varying theelectrical response of the mechanically vibratory means when vibratedmechanically thereby to develop a signal, and means controlled by thesignal for producing an indication corresponding to the sound energyimpinged upon the mechanically vibratory means.

25. An electric system having, in combination, mechanically vibratorymeans adapted to be set into mechanical vibration in response to soundenergy impingin thereon and capable of responding electrically whenvibrated mechanically, means for impinging electrons upon themechanically vibratory means to vary the elec- 13 tricalresponse of themechanically vibratory means when vibrated mechanically thereby to-develop-a signal, and means controlled by the signal for producing anindication corresponding actoithe sound energy impinged upon themechanically vibratory means.

26. An electric system having, in combination, 'a plurality ofmechanically vibratory means adapted: to be set into mechanicalvibration in response to sound energy impingin thereon and capable ofresponding electrically when vibrated mechanically, means comprising anelectron stream for scanning the mechanically vibratory means to varythe electrical response of the mechanically vibratory means whenvibrated mechanically thereby to develop successive signals, and meanscontrolled in accordance with the signals and synchronously with thescanning efiected by the scanning means for producing an indicationcorresponding to the sound energy gimpinged upon the mechanicallyvibratory ,means.

:2'7. Anelectric system having, in combination, .a plurality ofmechanically vibratory means "adapted to be set into mechanicalvibration in IIBSPOIISB to sound waves impinging thereon and capable ofresponding electrically when vibrated imechanically, means forconverging sound energy emanating from an object upon the 'mechanicallyvibratory means to set the me-hchanically vibratory means intomechanical vibration, means comprising an electron stream .;-forscanning the mechanically vibratory means to vary the electricalresponse of the mechanically vibratory means when vibrated meehani ically thereby to develop successive signals, and means controlled inaccordance with the signals and-synchronously with the scanning effected:by the scanning means for producing a likeness of the object.

'23. An electric system having, in combination, "a plurality ofpiezoelectric means, means for converging sound energy emanating from anobject upon the piezoelectric means to set the piezoelectric means intomechanical vibration; means comprising an electron stream for scanningthe :piezoelectric means to vary the electrical re- ;sponse of thepiezoelectric means when vibrated -mechanically thereby to developsuccessive sighala -and means controlled in accordance with the signalsand synchronously with the scanning produced by the scanning means forproducing a likeness of the object.

29. An electric system having, in combination, J: a plurality ofmechanically vibratory. sound-retceiving elements each adapted to be setinto mechanical vibration in'response tosound energy impinging thereonand each capable of respondingelectrically when vibrated mechanically,--'..means for converging sound energy emanating ":from an object uponthe mechanically vibratory elementsto set the mechanically vibratoryelements into mechanical vibration, means com- :prising an electronstream for successively scanningithe mechanically vibratory elementssuccessively to vary the electrical response of the mechanicallyvibratory elements when vibrated mechanically thereby to developsuccessive signals, and means controlled in accordance with thesigna1sand synchronously with the scanning effected by the scanning meansforproducing a .;likeness of the object.

' 30. An electric system having, in combination, -.:ia;plur.ality ofpiezoelectric sound-receiving elen; ments';::means for converging soundenergygemanating from an :objectupon the piezoelectric elements tosetthe piezoelectric elements into mechanical vibration, means comprisingan .electron stream for successively scanning the..piezo- 5 :electricelements thereby to developssuccessive signals, and means controlledinac'cordance with the signals .and synchronouslyiwith the scanningeifected by the-scanning means for producing a i likeness of the object.

31. An electric system having,:in combination, a plurality ofmechanically vibratory imeans adapted to be set into mechanicalvibration .in response tosound waves impinging thereonrand capable ofresponding electrically whenvibrated mechanically, means for convergingSOlll'l'dfBIlBI- gy emanating from an object upon the mechani- -ca1lyvibratory means to set the mechanically vibratory means into mechanicalvibration, means comprising an electron stream for scannin themechanically vibratory means to vary the electrical response of themechanically vibratory means when vibrated mechanicallythereby -todevelop successive signals, a cathode-ray oscilloscope having a screenand means. for producing an electron stream for scanning I the screen,and means controlled in accordance with the signals and synchronouslywith the scanning e-fiected by the scanning means for con- 'trolling thescanning operation of the electron stream of the oscilloscope to produceaslikeness of the object upon the screen. 532. An electric systemhaving, in combination, a plurality of piezo-electric means, means forconverging sound energy emanating from an ob- 'ject upon thepiezoelectric means to :set the piezoelectric means into mechanicalvibration, means comprising an electron stream'for effectin 'thescanning of the piezoelectric'means'to 'vary the electrical response ofthe piezoelectric means when-vibrated mechanically thereby to developsuccessive signals, a cathode-ray oscil- "loscope having a screen andmeans ior'produc- "ing an electron stream for scanning the-screen, andmeans controlled in accordance with the signals and synchronously withthe scanning effected by the'first-named scanning means for controllingthe scanning operation of the electron stream of the oscilloscope toproduce alikeness of theobject upon the screen.

33. An electric system having, in combination, a, plurality ofmechanically vibratory elements each adaptedto be set into mechanicalvibration in response to sound energy impinging thereon and eachcapableof responding-elecstrically when vibratedmechanically, means forconverging sound energy emanating from an object upon the mechanicallyvibratory elements to set the mechanically vibratory elementsintomechanical vibration, means comprisinglan electron stream forsuccessivel scanningv the soundreceiving elements successively to varythe electrical response of the mechanically vibratory elements whenvibrated mechanically thereby to develop successive signals, acathode-ray oscilloscope having a, screen and means for produc ing anelectron stream for scanning the screen, and means controlledinaccordance'with the signals and synchronously with the scanning effectedby the scanning means for controlling the scanning operation of theelectron stream of :the oscilloscope to produce a likeness of the objectupon the screen.

.34.,An electric system having, in combination, lsnazeplura'lityuofpiezoelectric soundereceiving ele- 15 ments, means for converging soundenergy emanating from an object upon the piezoelectric elements to setthe piezoelectric elements into a mechanical vibration, means comprisingan electron stream for successively scanning the piezoelectric elementsthereby to develop successive .signals, a cathode-ray oscilloscopehaving a screen and means for producing an electron stream for scanningthe screen, and means controlled in accordance with the signals andsynchronously with the scanning efiected by the scanning means forcontrolling the scannin operation of the electron stream of theoscilloscope to produce a likeness of the object upon the screen.

35. An electric system having, in combination, a plurality ofmechanically vibratory means adapted to be set into mechanical vibrationin response to sound energy impinging thereon and capable of respondingelectrically when vibrated mechanically, means for converging soundenergy emanating from an object upon the mechanically vibratory means toset the mechanically vibratory means into mechanical vibration, a loadcircuit, means for permanently connecting the mechanically vibratorymeans to the load circuit, means for scanning the mechanically vibratorymeans to develop in the load circuit signals representative of the soundenergy converged upon the mechanically vibratory means, and meansconnected to the load circuit and responsive to the signals developedtherein for producing a likeness of the object.

36. An electric system having, in combination, a plurality ofpiezoelectric sound-receiving elements, means for converging soundenergy emanating from an object upon the piezo-electric elements to setthe piezo-electric elements into mechanical vibration, a load circuit,means for connecting all the plurality of piezo-electric ,"elements tothe load circuit simultaneously to produce electric energy in the loadcircuit representing the resultant of the electric energy produced byall the piezo-electric elements, means comprising an electron stream forsuccessively scanning piezo-electric elements in order to diminish thesaid resultant of the electric energy during the scanning of therespective piezo-electric elements by quantities corresponding to thesound energy converged upon them by the converging means from theobject, and means operable synchronously with the diminishing meansconnected to the load circuit for producing a elements to set thepiezoelectric elements into mechanical vibration each with an intensitycorresponding to the intensity of the sound energy emanating from thecomponent part of the object from which the sound energy impingingthereon emanates, means for enhancing the mechanical vibration set up inthe piezoelectric elements, means for scanning the successivepiezoelectric elements thereby to develop corresponding signals, andmeans operable as each piezoelectric element is scanned for producing,in a region corresponding to the component part of the object from whichthe sound-energy impinging on such piezoelectric element emanates, inresponse to the corresponding signal an illumination of intensitycorresponding to the intensity of the sound energy emanating fromsuch'com- 16 ponent part of the object, thereby to produce a likeness ofthe object.

38. An electric system having, in combination, a plurality ofpiezoelectric sound-energy receiving elements for receiving sound wavesfrom an object, a plurality of spaced electrodes respectively associatedwith each of the plurality of receiving elements, the electrode spacingproviding sufiicient capacitance to produce resonance to the frequencyof the received sound waves, means for scanning the receiving elementsto develop signals, and means responsive to the signals and controlledsynchronously with the scanning for producing a likeness of the object.

39. An electric system having, in combination, piezoelectric means ofthe type that produces electric energy when vibrated mechanicaly, meansfor converging sound energy emanating from an object upon thepiezoelectric means to set the piezoelectric means into mechanicalvibration thereby to produce electric energy, means for producing abiasing voltage to sensitize the piezoelectric means, and meanscontrolled in accordance with the electric energy produced by themechanical vibrations of the piezoelectric means for producing alikeness of the object.

40. An electric system having, in combination, mechanically vibratorysound-energy receiving means, means for converging sound energyemanating from an object upon the sound-energy receiving means to setthe sound-energy receiving means into mechanical vibration thereby toproduce electric energy, means for producing a biasing voltage tosensitize the sound-Wave receiving means, and means controlled inaccordance with the electric energy produced by the mechanicalvibrations of the sound-energy receiving means for producing a likenessof the object.

41. An electric system having, in combination, a bank of Rochelle-saltpiezo-electric sound-receiving elements, means for focusing sound wavesfrom an object upon the sound-receiving elements, a load circuit, meansfor permanently connecting the bank of receiving elements to the loadcircuit, means for scanning the receiving elements to develop signals inthe load circuit representative of the sound-wave energy focused uponthe receiving elements, and means operating in synchronism with thescanning means and responsive to the signals developed in the loadcircuit for producing a likeness of the object.

42. An electric system having, in combination, a bank of quartzpiezo-electric sound-receiving elements, means for focusing sound wavesfrom an object upon the sound-receiving elements, a load circuit, meansfor permanently connecting the bank of receiving elements to the loadcircuit, means for scanning the receiving elements to develop signals inthe load circuit representative of the sound-wave energy focused uponthe receiving elements, and means operating in synchronism with thescanning means and responsive to the signals developed in the loadcircuit for producing a likeness of the object;

43. An electric system having, in combination, a bank of di-hydrogenpotassium phosphate piezo-electric sound-receiving elements, means forfocusing sound waves from an object upon the sound-receiving elements, aload circuit, means for permanently connecting the bank of receivingelements to the load circuit, means for scanning the receiving elementsto develop signals-in 17 the load circuit representative of thesound-wave energy focused upon the receiving elements, and meansoperating in synchronism with the scanning means and responsive to thesignals developed in the load circuit for producing a likeness of theobject.

ROBERT HARVEY RINES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,895,442 Bowser -1 Jan. 31, 19331,972,491 Nicolson Sept. 4, 1934 Number Number Name Date Gray Feb. 25,1936 Sokoloff June 27, 1939 Kellog Oct. 8, 1940 Mason Feb. 4, 1941 PolkeMar. 11, 1941 Woifi July 7, 1942 Hefele Apr. 10, 1945 Mecham Apr. 15,1947 Dimmick Nov. 9, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great BritainFeb. 12, 1931 Great Britain Dec. 19, 1941 France Apr. 9, 1941Certificate of Correction Patent N 0. 2,528,725 November 7, 1950 ROBERTHARVEY RINES It is hereby certified that error appears in the printedspecification of the above numbered patent requiring correction asfollows:

Column 16, lines 16 and 17, strike out of the type that produceselectric energy when vibrated mechanicaly; line 30, after the Word meansfirst occurrence, and before the comma, insert of the type that produceselectric energy when vibrated mechanically;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read as corrected above, sothat the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent OfliceSigned and Sealed this 23rd day of January, A. D. 1951.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Gammz'sse'oner of Patents.

Certificate of Correction Patent N 0. 2,528,725 November 7, 1950 ROBERTHARVEY RINES It is hereby certified that error appears in the printedspecification of the above numbered patent requiring correction asfollows:

Column 16, lines 16 and 17 strike out of the type that produces electricenergy when vibrated mechanicaly; line 80, after the Word means firstoccurrence, and before the comma, insert of the type that produceselectric energy when vibrated mechanically;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read as corrected above, sothat the same may conform to the record of the case in the PatentOflice. Signed and sealed this 23rd day of January, A. D. 1951.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Commissioner of Patents.

